Wire grip

ABSTRACT

A wire grip including a novel safety latch device by which the grip is manually applied to and removed from a wire to be stretched; the device automatically serving to provide a temporary lock to retain the grip on the wire as the grip is applied thereto. Upon manipulation of the grip to position the jaws thereof in gripping engagement with the wire, the device is manually movable into a permanent locking position, wherein it assists in transmitting loads between the wire clamping jaws.

Waited States Patent i 1 i l Henry T. Sievers Jamestown, NY. Appl. Nov47,435 7 Filed June 18, 1970 Patented Aug. I7, 1971 Assignee InventorJamestown, N.Y.

WIRE GRIP 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

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Crescent Niagara Corporation 24/132 ws me 11/09, Fl6g 11/12 .1 24/136LN, 132. 254; 294/104 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3.059.955 10/1962 rhursmntnunmm. 24/132ws 3,262,171 7/1966 Scholz 24/134Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak A!t0meyBean and Bean ABSTRACT: A wiregrip including a novel safety latch device by which the grip is manuallyapplied to and removed from a wire to be stretched; the deviceautomatically serving to provide a temporary lock to retain the grip onthe wire as the grip is applied thereto. Upon manipulation of the gripto position the jaws thereof in gripping engagement with the wire. thedevice is manually movable into a permanent locking position, wherein itassists in transmitting loads between the wire clamping jaws.

WIRE GRIP SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toimprovements in wire grips of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.1,942,625; 2,245,811; 2,985,933 and 3,262,171.

More specifically the present invention is directed to a wire gripfeaturing a novel plural position safety latch device by means of whichthe wire grip is applied to and automatically latched in position on awire.

The present wire grip includes a body portion; a pair of jaws on saidbody portion and having a side opening through which a wire to begripped may be admitted; a fulcrum pin for supporting one of said jawsfor movement relative to the other of said jaws for clamping a wirethere between; operating means for moving said one jaw; a latch plate;means arranged on one end of said plate for removable connection to anoperator manipulated tool; means for mounting said plate adjacentanother end thereof on said body portion adjacent said other jaw, saidmounting means constraining said plate alternatively for generallyvertical reciprocating movement from a first position to a secondposition wherein said other end of said plate extends across saidopening or for vertical pivoting movement from said first position to athird position wherein a portion of said plate intermediate said endsthereof extends across said opening; and means for releasably latchingsaid plate adjacent said one end thereof to said fulcrum pin when saidplate is in third position.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1' is a side elevational view of a wire grip embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an end clevational view of the wire grip as viewed from theleft in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. I, but showing the wire grip inclamping position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing details ofconstruction; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the wire grip inclamping position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now referring more particularly to the drawings, awire grip generally designated as l, is shown as comprising a bodyportion from one end of which extends an arm 12 formed with a guideopening 14. Formed as an integral part of the body 10 at the upperportion thereof is a laterally projecting, stationary, longitudinallyextending jaw member 16. As best seen in FIG. 2, jaw 16 is provided witha longitudinally grooved face 18, which may be V-shaped or arcuate.

A bellcrank lever 20 is pivotally mounted on a fulcrum pin 22 and has apair of angularly disposed, integral arms 24 and 26. Fulcrum pin 22 isin turn nonrotatably fixed to a lower depending portion of body portion10. Arm 24 has a bifurcated portion 28, which receives an aperturedflange forming a downward extension of a second jaw member 32. Flange 30is pivotally connected to bifurcated portion 28 by means of a pin 34.

Again referring to FIG. 2, jaw member 32 is shown as as being providedwith a longitudinally grooved face 36, which is a mirror image of theface of jaw 16. As desired, the faces of jaws 16, 32 may be providedwith transversely extending grooves or the like, not shown, in order toobtain a positive grip on a wire 38 to be clampingly engaged by thejaws.

The arm 26 is pivotally connected at its lower or free end with a linkor handle 40 by means of laterally projecting, headed pin 42. As will beapparent from viewing FIGS. I and 3, link 40 is slidably received withinguide opening 14 for movement between jaw-opening and jaw-closingpositions, respectively. Suitable means, such as a coil spring 44carried on pin 42 is preferably employed to bias arm 26 and link 40 intotheir jaw-opening positions; arm 26 and link 40 being normally retainedin their jaw-opening position by engagement of link step abutment 45with arm 12. The outer end of link 40 has an eye 46, which is adapted tobe engaged by a tool, not shown, or directly by the operator for thepurpose of moving the link longitudinally to move jaw 32 towards or awayfrom stationary jaw 16. When wire 38 is a high-tension cable, a tool inthe form of a long insulated rod having a hooked end and commonlyreferred to as a Hot Stick is employed. More particularly, by movinglink 40 inwardly, such as to pivot bellcrank lever 20 in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 1, jaw 32 is moved away from jaw 16, and bymoving link '40 outwardly jaw 32 is moved toward jaw 16, as viewed inFIG. 3.

It will be understood that, due to the arrangement of the body portionand jaws, there is defined a side opening, indicated in FIG. 2 at 48,through which wire 38 may be admitted. This arrangement facilitates theinsertion of a wire between the jaws, which is accomplished when thejaws are open, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. After insertion of the wireand closing the jaws under control of spring 44 to clamp the wiretherebetween, a pulling force exerted on the link 40 will both increasethe clamping pressure exerted by the jaws and cause the wire to bestretched.

In accordance with the present invention, the wire grip thus fardescribed, which is of conventional construction, is provided with anovel safety latch device generally designated as 50 in the drawings.

Device 50 generally includes a plural position latch plate 52 having aneye opening 54 arranged adjacent one end thereof for connecting thelatch plate to the hooked end of a hot stick." It will be understoodthat when the latch plate is suspended from a hot stick," the remainingportions of the wire grip are in turn suspended from the latch plate,such as to permit the wire grip to be placedupon or removed from wire 38when jaws 16, 32 are open, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Latch plate 52 is movably connected to body portion 10 by a headed pin56, which is slidably receivable. within an elongated slot 58 arrangedadjacent the other end of the latch plate. For purposes of reference,latch plate 52 will be referred to as being bounded by first and secondlengthwise extending side edges 60, 62 and semicircular end edges 64,66, whereas slot 58 will be referred to as being bounded by first andsecond sidewalls 68, 70 and first and second semicircular end walls 72,74. It will be understood that end edge 64 and first end wall 74 aresubstantially concentrically arranged and that first side edge 60 andfirst sidewall 68 are arranged in substantially parallel relationship.

Affixed to body portion 10 at a position spaced slightly verticallyabove headed pin 56 is a pin 76, which defines a cylindrical cam surfacealternately engageable with first side edge 60 and end edge 64.

Latch plate 52 is shown in solid line in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being in afirst position relative to body portion 10, wherein the weight of thebody portion is supported by the latch plate, via pin 56 and slot firstend wall 74, prior to the resting of jaw 16 on wire 38. Thereafter, theweight of the wire grip will be supported by the wire, so as to permitthe hooked end of the hot stick" to be removed from eye opening 54. Uponremoval, the force of gravity acting upon the latch plate automaticallycauses same to move into its second position, shown in phantom line inFIGS. 1 and 2 and in solid line in FIG. 3, wherein the lower or otherend of the latch plate extends across opening 48, such as to preventaccidental dislodgement of the wire from between the jaws. Duringmovement of latch plate 52 between its first and second positions, it isguided for substantially vertical reciprocating movement by pins 56 and76, which cooperate with slot first sidewall 68 and first side edge 60,respectively.

The weight of latch plate 52 will thereafter serve to maintain the latchplate in its second position, wherein slot second end wall 72 rests onpin 56, until the latch plate is positively manipulated for the purposeof either removing the wire grip from the wire or to move the latchplate into its permanent locking or third position to be hereinafterdescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The upstanding condition oflatch plate 52 in its second position gives a clear visual indication tothe operator of the wire grip that final latching has not beencompleted.

With latch plate 52 in its second position, an operator would thenengage link 40 with his hot stick for the purpose of placing jaws 16 and32 in their gripping position; spring 44 serving to exert sufficientclamping pressure on the wire to ensure against dislodgement of the wiregrip during permanent latching of the latch plate to be now described.

Preferably, latch plate 52 is permanently latched before application ofwire-stretching force to link 40. Permanent latching of latch plate 52is effected by the operator once again employing his "hot stick" toreturn latch plate 52 to its full line position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,and immediately whereafter rotating the latch plate throughsubstantially 180 to its third or permanently latch position, shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. It will be noted that during such movement, pins 56 and76 slideably engage with slot first end wall 74 and end edge 64,respectively, so as to insure pivotal movement of the latch platerelative to body portion 10. To ensure uninterrupted manipulation of thelatch plate by the hot stick during movement between the first and thirdpositions thereof, the upper end of the latch plate is formed outwardlyrelative to body portion 10, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, to permitthe hooked end of the hot stick" to freely clear wire 38.

Latching oflatch plate 52 in its third position is effected by providinga side-opening recess 80 in side edge 62, which is adapted to receivefulcrum pin 22; the latch plate recess having a notch 82 arranged toreceive a spring-operated ball detent device 84 to releasably retain pin52 within recess 80. It will be understood that when latch plate 52 isin its third position, it cooperates with body portion 10 to providesupport for both ends of fulcrum pin 22, thereby greatly increasing theclamping load which may be applied to wire 38 prior to failure of thefulcrum pin.

After use, the wire grip may be removed from wire 38 by returning link40 to its jaw open position, shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the operatoremploys his hot stick to return latc'h plate 52 to its first positionand lift the wire grip from the wire.

Iclaim:

1. A wire grip comprising:

a body portion;

a pair ofjaws on said body portion and having a side opening throughwhich a wire to be gripped may be admitted;

a fulcrum pin for supporting one of said jaws for movement relative tothe other of said jaws for clamping a wire therebetween;

operating means for moving said one jaw;

a latch plate;

means arranged on one end of said plate for removable connection to anoperator-manipulated tool;

means for mounting said plate adjacent another end thereof on said bodyportion adjacent said other jaw, said mounting means constraining saidplate alternatively for generally vertical reciprocating movement from afirst position to a second position wherein said other end of said plateextends across said opening or for vertical pivoting movement from saidfirst position to a third position wherein a portion of said plateintermediate said ends 5 thereof extends across said opening; and imeans for releasably latching said plate adjacent said one end thereofto said fulcrum pin when said plate is in third position.

2. A wire grip according to claim 1, wherein said means for latchingsaid plate includes a side-opening recess in a lengthwise extending edgeof said plate arranged to receive said fulcrum pin, a notch arrangedwithin said recess, and spring detent means carried on said fulcrum pinfor latching engagement within said notch when said fulcrum pin isreceived within said recess.

3. A wire grip according to claim 2, wherein said means for connectionis an eye opening in said plate immediately adjacent said one endthereof, said side-opening recess is spaced from said eye opening in adirection lengthwise of said plate, and said plate from saidside-opening recess towards said one end being formed outwardly fromsaid plate in a direction away from said body portion.

4. A wire grip according to claim 1, wherein said mounting meansincludes an elongated slot opening arranged to extend lengthwise of saidplate adjacent said other end thereof, pin means carried on said bodyportion and slideably received within said slot, and guide means carriedon said body portion, said guide means being arranged for slidingengagement with said plate and cooperating with said pin means and slotto constrain said plate for movement as aforesaid.

5. A wire grip according to claim 4, wherein said guide means defines acurved cam surface, said slot is bounded by first and second sidewallsarranged to extend lengthwise of said plate and first and second endwalls, said other end of said plate is bounded by first and second sideedges arranged to extend lengthwise of said plate and an end edge, atleast said first sidewall and edge being substantially parallel, saidfirst end wall and said end edge being semicircular and concentricallyarranged, said pin means being engageable with said first end wall whensaid plate is in said first and third positions and with said second endwall when said plate is in said second position, said pin means and camsurface cooperating with said first sidewall and edge to constrain saidplate for movement between said first and second positions andcooperating with said first end wall and end edge to constrain saidplate for movement between said first and third positions.

6. A wire grip according to claim 5, wherein said plate pivots throughabout 180 in moving between said first and third positions; said guidemeans is a pin defining a cylindrical cam surface, the axis of the lastsaid pin being arranged vertically above said pin means relative to saidother jaw.

7. A wire grip according to claim 5, wherein said means for latchingsaid plate includes a side-opening recess in said second side edge ofsaid plate arranged to receive said fulcrum pin, a notch arranged withinsaid recess, and spring detent means carried on said fulcrum pin forlatching engagement within said notch when said fulcrum pin is receivedwithin said recess.

1. A wire grip comprising: a body portion; a pair of jaws on said bodyportion and having a side opening through which a wire to be gripped maybe admitted; a fulcrum pin for supporting one of said jaws for movementrelative to the other of said jaws for clamping a wire therebetween;operating means for moving said one jaw; a latch plate; means arrangedon one end of said plate for removable connection to anoperator-manipulated tool; means for mounting said plate adjacentanother end thereof on said body portion adjacent said other jaw, saidmounting means constraining said plate alternatively For generallyvertical reciprocating movement from a first position to a secondposition wherein said other end of said plate extends across saidopening or for vertical pivoting movement from said first position to athird position wherein a portion of said plate intermediate said endsthereof extends across said opening; and means for releasably latchingsaid plate adjacent said one end thereof to said fulcrum pin when saidplate is in third position.
 2. A wire grip according to claim 1, whereinsaid means for latching said plate includes a side-opening recess in alengthwise extending edge of said plate arranged to receive said fulcrumpin, a notch arranged within said recess, and spring detent meanscarried on said fulcrum pin for latching engagement within said notchwhen said fulcrum pin is received within said recess.
 3. A wire gripaccording to claim 2, wherein said means for connection is an eyeopening in said plate immediately adjacent said one end thereof, saidside-opening recess is spaced from said eye opening in a directionlengthwise of said plate, and said plate from said side-opening recesstowards said one end being formed outwardly from said plate in adirection away from said body portion.
 4. A wire grip according to claim1, wherein said mounting means includes an elongated slot openingarranged to extend lengthwise of said plate adjacent said other endthereof, pin means carried on said body portion and slideably receivedwithin said slot, and guide means carried on said body portion, saidguide means being arranged for sliding engagement with said plate andcooperating with said pin means and slot to constrain said plate formovement as aforesaid.
 5. A wire grip according to claim 4, wherein saidguide means defines a curved cam surface, said slot is bounded by firstand second sidewalls arranged to extend lengthwise of said plate andfirst and second end walls, said other end of said plate is bounded byfirst and second side edges arranged to extend lengthwise of said plateand an end edge, at least said first sidewall and edge beingsubstantially parallel, said first end wall and said end edge beingsemicircular and concentrically arranged, said pin means beingengageable with said first end wall when said plate is in said first andthird positions and with said second end wall when said plate is in saidsecond position, said pin means and cam surface cooperating with saidfirst sidewall and edge to constrain said plate for movement betweensaid first and second positions and cooperating with said first end walland end edge to constrain said plate for movement between said first andthird positions.
 6. A wire grip according to claim 5, wherein said platepivots through about 180* in moving between said first and thirdpositions; said guide means is a pin defining a cylindrical cam surface,the axis of the last said pin being arranged vertically above said pinmeans relative to said other jaw.
 7. A wire grip according to claim 5,wherein said means for latching said plate includes a side-openingrecess in said second side edge of said plate arranged to receive saidfulcrum pin, a notch arranged within said recess, and spring detentmeans carried on said fulcrum pin for latching engagement within saidnotch when said fulcrum pin is received within said recess.